Paper cutter



March 14, 1933. A. K. TAYLOR PAPER CUTTER Filed Dec. 23, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l March 14, 1933. A. K. TAYLOR PAPER CUTTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 25, 1929 June 11* 0'0 March 14, 1933. OR

PAPER CUTTER Filed Dec. 23, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet March 14, 1933. K TAYLOR I 1,901,676

PAPER CUTTER Filed Dec. 23, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 flrf/urr if. 7312,4201" Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR KIRKBRIDE P TAYLOR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES PRINTING AND LITHOGRAPH CO., BALTIIORE, mm, A 003- PORATION or 0111b PAPER CUTTER Application filed December 28, 1929. Serial- No. 416,018.

This invention relates to paper cutters and while it is applicable to the cutting of sheets generally, it is particularly adapted to the cutting of sheets on which labels are prmted into their individual printed components.

It is customary in combination work, to print labels in rows on the sheet, each row, for instance, comprising a different label, and the rows being in consequence, for example, of different widths. The present 1nvention has for its object the presentation of a sheet, or stack of sheets of labels of different widths, at the cutting knife in successive steps the lengths of which correspond to the widths of the rows, and the automatic stopping of the sheets at the proper points to accomplish this result.

A further object of the invention is the provision of mechanism which can be operated at will by power or by hand so that while the grosser movements of the feeding means by which the sheets are presented at the knife are made by mechanical power, the points at which precision is required are approached by manually operable means, but determined automatically.

Still another object of the invention is to provide signalling means operable responsive to positions of the sheet for indicating the points at which manual power should be substituted for mechanical power.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for positively inhibiting the cutting action of the knife until the stack of sheets is in the exact position at which the cut is to be made.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a series of adjustable stops adapted to be initially set at positions corresponding to the diiierent widths into which the sheet or stack of sheets is to be out, said stops including means cooperating with instrumentalities moving with the sheet, for stopping the latter at the appropriate points for cutting.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of auxiliary means placed in operable positions at will, for determining narrow marginal width cuts intermediate the space intervals of the width cuts for which the apparatus is set and without disturbing the said space intervals of said width cuts.

Other objects of the invention will a pear as the following description of a pre erred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

The following specification is accompanied by drawings in which the same characters of references are used in the several figures to denote identical parts.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section showing the driving mechanism;

Figure 3 is a perspective view;

Figure 4 is a plan view showing one of the stops and the cooperating switch mechanism, the circuit being indicated diagrammatically, the parts being shown in signal activating position;

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the parts in mechanism stopping position;

Figure 6 is a rear view partly in section, part of the structure being omitted, taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 2; Figure 7 is a view partly in section taken along the line 77 of Figure 11;

Figure 8 is a section taken along the line 88 of Figure 11;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the guide for the sliding parts of the switch mechanism;

Figure 10 is a plan view of a fragment of the switch and switch actuating mechanism showing one of the auxiliary stop attachments in operative position.

Figure 11 is a side view, partly in section of the switch mechanism shown in Figure 4.

Now, referring in detail to the several figures, and first adverting to Figure 3, a base board 1 is shown on which is arranged a stack of labels 2. The base board is provided with v a vertical push board 6 including a plurality of bars or fingers 7 spaced apart and arranged perpendicular to the base board, against which the stack of label sheets is aligned. The operator stands in the foreground adjacent the hand wheel 3 and the push board is constructed to slide forwardly, toward the operator by means such as the threaded shaft of the stack of labels, to hold the same while the knife is making its cut. In order that v the rearward edge of the stack of labels may be brought sufliciently close to the plane of operation of the knife to enable the narrowest of the labels to be cut, the clamp late 8 is provided with bars or fingers 9, see igure 1, placed in staggered relation with respect to the fingers 7 on the push board 6 so that when said push board approaches the clamp plate, the fin ers of these two members interdigitate, ena ling the push board to advance sufliciently close to the knife 5. The knife and clamp plate are of well known construction, and it is not considered essential here to illustrate the operating means for the same, which is also old.

The purpose of the invention, as has been set forth in the statement of its objects, is to advance the stack of labels beneath the knife by successive steps according to the width of the rows of labels printed on the sheets of said stack, which rows may vary in width. With this object in view, an elongated gage plate 11 is provided which is suitably secured to a stationary part of the apparatus and extends parallel to the base board in the direction of movement of the push board and being preferably arranged at one side of the base board and above the level of the same so as to be in a position in which it will not interfere with the proper allocation of the stack of labels on the base board.

The gage plate 11 is provided with a scale 12 and parallel with the scale it is formed with agroove 13, preferably of dove tailed cross-section as shown in Figure 11. This groove forms a guide for slidably arranged stops or controls 14, shown in plural in Figure 1, which stops correspond in number to the number of cuts which it is desired shall be applied to the sheet. The stops can be suitably removed or inserted in the groove 13, according to the number which it is desired to use, and for convenience, several stops may be kept in readiness in that portion of the groove which extends beyond the range of operation of the push board.

The stops each consists of a sliding carriage 15 resting upon the gage plate and being maintained against lateral tilting by a projecting portion 16 operating in a groove 17.. which parallels the dove tailed groove 13. It is to be understood that the projection 16 and groove 17 are not "an essential part of the invention.

The stops 14 are preferably provided with an index such as the arrow 18 by means of which the stops may be accurately aligned with any desired mark on the scale 12. The stops may be secured in any position of adjustment in the groove 13 by means of bolts 19 having the heads thereof arranged in said dove tailed groove and of corresponding cross section, the shanks of said bolts extending through apertures in the stops for receiving adjusting nuts 20 by means of which, when the nuts are tightened, the bolts are wedged with respect to the groove 13 holding the stops fixedly.

Each of the stops is normally provided with an extended arm 22 carrying a roller 21, said roller being the actuating element of anelectric switch. The stops are adjustably plate 11, the scale beginfixed alon the gage ning at t e point 0 farthest retraction of the push board and the distance of the stop closest to said point of retraction determining the width of cut of the first row of labels. The other stops are set along the scale according to the desired width of the remaining rows of labels of the sheet.

The push board 6 is provided with an upstanding bracket 10 which carries an electric switch mechanism, adapted to be actuated successively by the several stops as the push board advances on the base board past said series of stops.

The switch is shown in plan in Fi re 1, and in more detail in Figures 11, 7 an 8. It

consists of a guide member 23 secured on the bracket 10 having a pair of flanges 25 above, and a similar pair of flanges 24 below, each pair affording a guide-way for the slides 27- and 26, respectively. Each of these slides carries a pair of rojecting arms, the arms of the lower "pair being designated by reference characters 28 and 29, while the arms of the upper pair are denoted by the reference characters 30 and 31. The lower arms carry rollers 32 and 33, and the upper arms are provided with similar rollers 34; and 35. The lower rollers co-act with rollers 21 carried at the extremity of the arms 22 of the stops 14.

'The arms 28, 29, 30 and 31 are suitably insulated from the slides 26 and 27. Said slides act independently, but they are both normally held in a forward position by means of springs 37 and 38 anchored to a common post 39 supported b the guide plate 23, and passing through e ongated apertures in the slides, which apertures afford the necessary lost motion for the operation of said slides. The opposite ends of the springs 37 and 38 are aflixed to posts 40 and 41 independently carried by said slides.

It will be seen from Figures 4 and 5 that the upper slide 27 carries a switch contact 42 adapted, when said slide is' suflicientliyl' retracted, to engage a complementary switc contact 43, thus closing a circuit through the signal lamp 44. It is to be understood that a buzzer or any other form of indicating means may be used as the full equivalent of the lam T e lower slide 26 is in an exactly similar manner constructed to actuate the lamp 44, by means of cooperating switch contacts 45 and 46 shown in Figure 8, thus, when either of the slides 26 or 27 is retracted to a suflicient distance, the lamp signal will be energized.

It will be observed that when the stop roller 21 is in longitudinal alignment with the lower roller 32, the switch contacts 45 and 46 are closed energizing the lamp, but

when the stop roller 21 has passed to a position in which it bridges the space between the rollers 32 and 33, the slide 26 is not sulficiently retracted, and the switch contacts 45 and 46 are opened, consequently, the lamp is not energized.

In the last named position of the roller 21, however, that is to say, when it bridges the -space between the rollers 32 and 33, the

roller 21 itself functions as a switch contact completing a circuit through the rollers 32 and 33 and through the circuit wires 47 and 48 which include electric solenoids 49 and 50.

Before describing the mechanism controlled by these solenoids, a description of the operation of the apparatus will now follow, in so far as it has been described to this point. A stack of sheets having been placed upon the base board as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the several stops, in this instance four in number, since four cuts are to be made, are arranged at proper intervals along the gage plate 11. The rollers 21 carried by these stops are in the path of movement of the lower rollers 32 and 33, carried by the switch mechanism. The push board is advanced by power from any suitable source applied to the threaded shaft 4. As the push board advances, the roller 32 engages the roller 21 of the first stop, pushing the slide 26 backward until the circuit is made through the switch contacts 45 and 46. This is a signal to the operator that he is approaching a point at which precision is required in determining the exact point where the first cut is to be made. The operator then switches off the power from the threaded shaft 4 and continues to turn this shaft by means of the hand wheel 3.

It will be noted from Figure 6 that the hand wheel is at the end of a shaft 51 suitably supported and carrying a gear 52 which meshes with a smaller gear 53 fixed to the threaded shaft 4.

The shaft 51 is also provided with a ratchet wheel 54, the teeth 55 of which are each formed in one direction with an abrupt shoulder adapted to be engaged by a awl 56 on a lever 57. Said lever at one end unctions as an armature for the solenoid 49 and is pivotally supported as at 58 between said pawl and said solenoid, so that when it is attracted by the energization of said solenoid, the pawl 56 engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 54 so as to inhibit rotation of the threaded shaft 4 in the direction which advances the push board. Consequently, whenever the pawl 56 falls between the ratchet teeth 55, the forward movement of the push board is stopped. A spring 59 normally maintains the lever 57 in a position in which the pawl 56 is out of engagement with the teeth 55 when the solenoid 49 is not energized.

Now, as has been stated, when the operator sees the signal lamp 44 illuminated, he then cuts off the power which has been driving the threaded shaft 4 and continues to rotate it by hand, thus continuing to advance the push board very slowly. Just at the point when the roller 21 of the first stop bridges the rollers 32 and 33, as shown in Figure 5, the circuit through the solenoid 49 is made, energizing said solenoid, the latter actuating the lever 57 and dropping the pawl into engage ment with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The advance of the push board is thus instantly inhibited, and the point is reached at which the first cut is to be made.

The operator actuates the knife operating mechanism which is of known construction, and need not here be shown, causing the knife to descend and perform the first cut. The operator then lifts the lever 57 by means of the thumb piece 60, releasing the pawl 56 from the ratchet teeth, and he then turns on the power which takes up the further advance of the push board 6.

As soon as the push board has advanced until the roller 21 has broken contact with the roller 33, the solenoid 49 becomes deenergized, and the operator can then let go of the thumb piece 60 since the spring 59, relieved of the resistance imposed by the solenoid 49, now maintains the lever 57 in inactive position. The mechanical power then advances the push board up to the point at which the sheet of labels approaches the position for the second cut, at which time, the roller 32 engages the roller 21 of the second stop, and the above narrated sequence of operation is re peated.

In order to render it impossible to let the knife inadvertently descend until the proper position for the out has been reached, a latch device is provided, comprising the pivoted bell crank 61 in operative relation with a draw-bar 62 which controls the actuation of the knife. A spring 63 normally holds this crank in such posit1on that it engages in a notch 64 of said draw-bar to inhibit the movement of the same in the knife operating direction indicated by the arrow in Figure F? roller 21 will bridge the rollers 32 and as,

4. This position is maintained until the solenoid 49 is energized, at which time, the solenoid 50 will also be energized, since it is connected in parallel with the solenoid 49 shown in Figure 4.

When the solenoid 50 is energized the bell crank 61 is drawn out of the notch 64, leaving the draw-bar 62 free to be actuated by the usual operating means, not shown.

When the notch 64 of the draw-bar 62 reaches said bell crank after the cutting operation, the bell crank automatically slips into said notch and the draw-bar is thus again maintained in inactive position, until, by the operation of the push board the stack of sheets reaches the position of the next cut.

The labels, as customarily printed upon the sheets, are bounded by narrow white margins, and it is sometimes desirable in cutting the sheets into individual components, to cut off this white margin so that the labels will be printed to their extreme width edges. This necessitates a double cut, one cut coming very close to the other, for example, the cuts being from one-eighth to one-fourth inch apart. When it is desired to make such a double out, the position of the second cut is determined and controlled by means of an upper roller 65, see Figure 10, mounted on a late 66 which may be adjustably secure to the sto 14.

gne or more of the stops may be provided with this attachment, depending upon the number of rows from which it is desired to shear the narrow width margins. Each of the plates 66 is adjusted longitudinally of the direction of movement of the push board by means of a slot 67, through which the tightening screw 68 projects. The roller 65 of this attachment actuates the upper slide 27 and this slide and the associated switch contacts 42 and 43 are provided for the sole purpose of cooperating with the attachment when the latter is used. In the normal operation of the device when the double cut is not to be made, the upper slide together with its appurtenant switch and circuit connections is altogether inactive.

The double cut is made as follows; the push board advances under power in the usual manner as hereinbefore described, the lower roller 32 making contact with the roller 21 on the stop 14 which is provided with the said attachment. The signal lamp will be lighted and the operator, upon observing the same, will cut oil the power in the usual manner as described, proceeding then to advance the push board by the hand wheel.

In due course, as has been described, the

energizing the solenoid 49 and bringing down the lever 57 so as to stop the advance of the push board. The operator will then make the first cut as described, and will then raise the lever 57 by means of the thumb piece so as to be able to continue to advance the push board by means of the hand wheel. In the meantime the roller of the attachment, which is ofiset slightly through its adjustment, from the roller 21, will have made contact with the roller 34 which lies immediately above the roller 32. This will again flash the signal lamp through actuation of the slide 27 and put the operator on notice that the position for the second cut is about to be reached by the push board. He then continues to rotate the hand wheel very slowly and carefully until the roller 65 bridges the rollers 34 and 35, at which time the solenoid 49 will again be energized and the lever 57 brought down once again to inhibit the advancing mechanism. The operator then makes the second cut and proceeds to'release the feed detainin mechanism in the manner which has alrea y been released.

After the final cut has been made and the labels removed, the push board is retracted to its initial position by reversing.

It is to be understood from the construction as described, that the application of the double cut attachment or its removal, does not in any way interfere with the position or functioning of any of the stops so that the width intervals between the normal cuts are not disturbed by the making of one or more of the double cuts.

While I have in the above disclosure, endeavored to describe what I know to be practical, and believe to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the details of construction as described, and the arrangement of parts is merely an exemplary embodiment of my invention, and is not to be understood as limiting the scope of the invention which is to be determined by a fair and broad construction of the appended claims.

\ What I claim is:

1. In a paper cutting apparatus of that type in which advancing means pro el a stack of sheets step by step towards a knife for cutting successive portions from said stack, means for determining the width intervals of the several cuts comprising a fixed member, a plurality of stops mounted on said fixed member and constructed to be set at points corresponding to the desired points of cutting, switch mechanism operatively connected with said advancing means for movement proportionately therewith, motion inhibiting means for said advancing means, said switch mechanism being placed in a circuit which includes means for actuating said motion inhibiting means when said circuit is energized, said switch mechanism being engageable successively with said stops and operable responsive to such engagement for inhibiting the motion of said advancing means successively at the positions determined by said stops.

2. In aper cutting apparatus of that type in which advancing means ropel a stack of sheets step by step towar a knife for cutting off successive portions from said stack, means for determining the width intervals of the several cuts comprising a plurality of stops constructed to be set to correspond to the desired points of cutting, and means controlling the movement of said advancing means com rising switch mechanism including a p urality of successively closable gaps, each gap being included in a separate circuit, signal mechanism being placed in the circuit first closable, and motion inhibiting means being placed in the later closable circuit, said switch mechanism including means engageable with each stop successively for closing said signal circuit and said motion inhibiting means circuit, said switch mechanism being en ageable successively with said stops as t e movement of said advancing means progresses.

3. -In paper cutting apparatus of that type i in which advancing means propel a stack of sheets step by step towards a knife for cutting off successive portions from sa d stack, means for determining the width intervals of the several cuts comprising a plurality ofadjustable stops constructed to be set to cor-- respond to the desired pointsof cutting, motion inhibiting means for said advancing means and switch mechanism operatively connected with said advancing means for movement proportionately therewith and engageable successively with said stops, said switch mechanism including spaced contacts placed in a circuit including said motion inhibiting means, said stops each having an element bridging said spaced contacts for closing said circuit when each stop is reached, and means for releasing said motion inhibiting means.

4. In paper cutting apparatus of that type in which advancing means propel a stack of sheets step by step towards a knife for cutting oif successive portions from said stack, means for determining the width intervals of the several cuts comprising a plurality of stops constructed to be set to correspond to the desired points of cuttin means for imparting motion to said a vancing means,

means controlling the movement of said advancing means and operable responsive to said stops for inhibiting the motion of said advancing means successively at positions determined by said stops, signalling means also operable responsive to said stops prior to the operation of said movement controlling means determiningtimes at which manual power may be substituted for mechanical power in the actuation of said advancing means so that the movement inhibiting means may act during the period of application of manual power.

5. In paper cutting apparatus of thattype in which advancing means pro l a stack of sheets step by step towards a fe for cutting ofi successive portions from sa 1d stack, means for determining the width intervals of the several cuts comprising a plurahty of stops constructed to be set to correspond to the desired points of cutting, a screw shaft normally power driven for imparting movement to said advancing means, a hand wheel operably connected to said screw shaft through which manual power may be substituted for mechanical power in the feeding of said advancing means, when desired, a ratchet wheel operatively connected to said screw shaft, a lever, a pawl controlled by said lever for engaging said ratchet wheel to ina hibit the movement of said screw shaft, a solenoid for actuating said lever to engage said pawl with said ratchet wheel, switch mechanism operatively connected with said advancing means for movement proportionately therewith and engageable successively with said stops, said switch mechanism being placed in circuit with said solenoid and operable upon engagementwith said'stops to close said circuit, thereby actuating said pawl to inhibit the movement of said screw shaft.

6. In paper cutting apparatus of that type in which advancing means propel a stack of sheets step by step towards a knife for cutting ofi successive portions from said stack, means for determining the width intervals of the several cuts comprising a plurality of stops constructed to be set to correspond to the desired points of cutting, a screw shaft, normally power driven for imparting movement to said advancing means, a hand wheel operably connected to said screw shaft I through which manual power may be substituted for mechanical power in the feeding of said advancing means,when desired, a ratchet wheel operatively connected to said screw shaft a pawl for engaging said ratchet wheel to inhibit the movement of said screw shaft, a solenoid for causing said pawl to engage said ratchet wheel, switch mechanism operatively connected with said advancing means for movement proportionately therewith and engageable successively with said stops, said switch mechanism being placed in circuit with said solenoid and operable upon engagement with said stops to close said circuit, thereby actuating said pawl to inhibit the movement of said screw shaft, and a circuit including a signal, arranged to be activated by said switch upon engagementlos ual power may be substituted for mechanical in which advancing means pro el astack of sheets step by step towards a nife for cuttingofi successive ortions from said stack, means for determining the width intervals of the several cuts comprising a plurality of stops constructed to be set to correspond to the desired points of cutting, a screw'sha-ft,

normally power driven for imparting movement to said advancing means, a hand wheel operably connected to said screw shaft through which manual power may be substituted for mechanical power in the feeding of said advancing means, when desfred, a ratchet wheel operatively connected to said screw shaft, a lever, a pawl controlled by said lever for engaging said'ratchet wheel to inhibit'the movement of said screw shaft, a solenoid for actuating said lever to engage said pawl with said ratchet wheel, switch mechanism carried by said advancing means and engageable successivel with said stops, said switch mechanism being placed in C11- cuit with said solenoid and operable upon en-' gagement with said sto s to close said circuit, thereby actuating sai pawl to inhibit the movement of said screw shaft, and a circuit, including a signal, arranged to be activated by said switch upon engagement with said stops just prior to the activation of said solenoid circuit, to indicate when manual power may be substituted for mechanical power in the actuation of said screw shaftrto slow down its action so that the pawl may engage said ratchet wheel for inhibiting the movement of said screw shaft within the eriod of manual actuation of the latter, sai lever being provided with a thumb piece for releasin said screw shaft from the inhibition of sai pawl when desired.

8. In aper cutting apparatus of that type in which advancing meansv propel a stack of sheets step by step towards .a knife for cutting off successive portions from said stack, means for determining the width intervals of the several cuts comprising a plurality of stops constructed to be setto correspond with the desired points of cutting, means controlling the movement of said advancing means including switch mechanism operatively connected with said advancing means for movement proportionately therewith and engageable successively with said stops, a circuit in wh ch said switch is placed, 7 and means for inhibiting the movement of said advancing means when said switch mechanism is actuated, and an additional switch engaging element adjustabl securable to said stops for actuating an a dit'onal switch mechanism to inhibit the motion of said advancing means at intervals following the intervals determined by said stops.

9. In aper cutting apparatus of that type in which advancing means propel a stack of sheets step by step towards a kn fe for cutting off successive portions of said stack,

'means' for determining the width intervals of the several cuts comprising a plurality of stops constructed to be set to coriespondto the desired points of cutting, means controlling the movement of said advancing means, operable responsive to said stops for inh biting the movement of said advancing means successively at the positions determined by Y said stops, said movement controlling means including a means normally ower driven being manually operated at wi a signal for determining when the manual operation of said means may be substituted for power operation, a circuit for actuating said signal, a second circuit for operatin the means for inhibiting the movement 0 said advancing means, switch mechanism operatively confor closing the circuit through said movement inhibiting means.

10. In paper cutting apparatus of that type in which advancing means for a stack of sheets is moved step by step toward a knife for cutting off successive portions from said stack, means for determining the width intervals of the several cuts comprising a plurality of stops constructed to be set to correspond to the desired points of cutting, rotary means normally power driven for imparting movement to said advancing means, a hand wheel operably connected to said rotary means by which manual power may be substituted for mechanical power in the feeding of said advancing means when desired, a ratchet wheel 0 eratively connected to said rotar means, a ever, a pawl controlled by said i ever for engaging said ratchet wheel to inhibit the movement of said rotary means, a solenoid for actuating said lever to engage mechanism with the stop said pawl with said ratchet wheel, switch mechanism carried by said advancing means and engageable successively with said stops, 'said switch mechanism being intercalated -with the circuit of said solenoid and oper-' able upon engagement with said stops to close said circuits, thereby actuating said pawl to inhibit the movement of said rotary means,

11. In paper cutting apparatus of that type in which advancing means for a stack stops for inhibiting the movement of said advancing means successively at the positions determined by said stops, a signal actuated. when the advancing means approaches close to the end of each successive advancing movement, for determining when the spee of operation of the machine should be slowed down for caution, a circuit for actuating said signal, a second circuit for operating the means for inhibiting the movement of said advancing means, switch mechanism including a slide depressed by a stop upon the .engagement of said switch mechanism with the same for closing the signal circuit, said switch mechanism including also spaced contacts bridged by an element of said stop upon further movement of said switch mechanism for-closing the circuit through said movement inhibiting means.

12. In a sheet cutting machine, a knife, means for propelling the sheets to bring the stack into successive positionsbeneath the knife, a gauge mounted upon the frame of the machine, said gauge comprising a series of controls arranged along its length at intervals corresponding to the desired intervals between cuts, traveling means associated with the stack propelling means for movement proportionately therewith along said gauge, motion inhibiting means for said stack propelling means, and an electric circuit for controlling said motion inhibiting means, saidtraveling'means being adapted to cooperate with each of said controls successively, as it reaches a given position with respect to such control, for energizing or deenergizing said electric circuit.

13. In a machine of the class described, Work advancing means adapted to move forward in successive steps, a gauge mounted upon the frame of the machine, said gauge comprising a series of controls arrangeg along its length, traveling means associate with said work advancing means for movement proportionately therewith along said gauge, motion inhibiting means for said work advancing means, and an electric circuit for controlling said motion inhibiting means, said traveling means being adapted to cooperate with each of said controls suc cessively as it reaches a given position with respect to the control for energizing or deenergizing said electric circuit.

14. In a sheet cutting machine, a knife, means for propelling a stack of sheets to bring the stack into successive positions heneath the knife, a gauge mounted on the frame of the machine, said gauge comprising a series of controls arranged along its length at intervals corresponding to the desired in tervals between cuts, some of said intervals representing the width of sheet sections and some of said intervals representing the width of trims to be discarded, traveling means associated with the stack propelling means for movement proportionately therewith along said gauge, motion inhibiting means for said stack propelling means, and electric means brought into operation when said traveling means comes into'registration with the va rious controls for actuating said motion inhibiting means, whereby the stack is automatically stopped at the desired positions of cut.

15. In paper cutting apparatus of that type in which advancing means propels a stack of sheets step by step towards a knife for cutting off successive portions from said stack, stack advancing means, and means for automatically stopping said advancing means to bring the stack into exact position for a cut at the edge of a desired sheet section and again at a short distance therebeyond to brin the stack into exact position for a cut at tfie beginning edge of the next succeeding sheet section, the intervening step constituting a trim.

16. In a sheet cutting machine, 'a knife,

means for propelling the stack of sheets to bring the stack intosuccessive positions heneath the knife, a gauge mounted upon the frame of the machine, said gauge comprising a series of controls arranged along its length at intervals corresponding to the desired in tervals between cuts, traveling means associated with the stack propelling means for movement proportionately therewith along said gauge, means for locking the knife in inoperative position, motion inhibiting means for said stack propelling means, and electrical means brought into operation when said traveling means comes into registration with the various controls for actuating said motion inhibiting means and for releasing said knife locking means.

17. In paper cutting apparatus of that type in which advancing means propels a stack of sheets step by step towards a knife for cuttingofi' successive portions from said stack, means for determining the width intervals of the several cuts comprising a gauge mounted upon the'frame of the machine, said gauge comprising a plurality of controls individually settable along its length, at any desired points, work advancing means adapted to move forward in successive steps, power means and manual means for driving said work advancing means, travelling means associated with said work advancing means for movement proportionately therewith along said gauge, motion inhibiting means for said work advancing means, a signal, an electric circuit including said signal arranged to be energized when said travelling means reaches a predetermined position with respect to one of said controls, said signal giving indication that manual power should be substituted for mechanical power in the operation of the work advancing means, a knife, knife operating mechanism, a latch for holding the knife in inoperative position while the work advancili g means is in operation, a second electric circuit adapted when energized to actuate said motion inhibiting means and to withdraw said latch, said second circuit being arranged to be energized when said travelling means reaches a second predetermined position with respect to the same control.

18. A sheet cutting machine including means for cutting sheet material, means for forwarding the sheet material relatively to the cutting means, means to stop said forwarding means at any predetermined point including members movable in a path proportionately to the travel of said forwarding means coacting with a stop means settable along said path at any predetermined point, said stop means permitting further forwarding movement for a predetermined distance after first. coacting with one of said movable members.

19-. A sheet cutting machine including means for cutting sheet material, means for intermittently forwarding the sheet material relatively to the cutting means including a feed bar and a member movable in a path proportionately to the travel of said feed bar resiliently coacting successively with sepa-.

rate stop means each placed in any predetermined position along said path to successively interrupt the action of said forwarding means, said resilient coaction permitting said member to override said stop means when the movement of the forwarding means is resumed.

20. In a machine of the class described, means to operate upon material, means to intermittently feed material toward said operating means including a feed bar and a member movable in a path proportionately to the travel of the feed bar, means for interrupting the action of said feeding means electrically, said means comprising current flow control means positioned partly at a selected point along the travel of said member and partly upon said member, the movable part of said current flow control means being adapted to" override the stationary part when the movement of the feeding means is resumed.

21. In a movement determining mechanism for locating successive operations upon material, an electrical contact mechanism comprising a pair of spaced apart contact members moving one ahead of the other in a fixed pathway, a succession of adjustable conductors in the pathway of and each engageable successively with said contact members, each conductor having a surface, which upon engagement with said contact members, bridges the gap therebetween and thereby completes a circuit therethrough, and means to each other, means-tov relatively hold said members and gap closer resiliently in the path of each other to allow their operation to prevent, and to allow the operation of, said movement making means.

23. A sheet cutting machine including means for cutting sheet material, means for forwarding the sheet material relatively to the cutting means, means to successively stop said forwarding means at a plurality of separately predetermined points controlled by successive settable spaced electric circuit closing devices coacting with means connected to said forwarding means.

24. In a movement determining mechanism for locating successive operations upon material, an electrical contact mechanism comprising a pair of'spaced apart contact members moving one ahead of the other in a fixed pathway, a succession of adjustable conductors in the pathway of and each engage-.

able successively with said contact members,

each conductor having a surface, which upon engagement with said contact members, bridges the gap therebetween and thereby completes a circuit therethrough, the contact of the second of said contact members increasing the movement of the first contact member away from each conductor, in passing, and means to stop the movement of said moving contact members upon engagement with each conductor initiated by said circuit and means to release said stopping means upon completing a located operation and to allow the movement of said moving contact members past each conductor.

25. In a machine for cutting paper including a frame, a cutter, a pusher for feeding material to the cutter, means for intermittently actuating the pusher, means for actuating the cutter, means for stopping theactuating means including means spaced 1n any predetermined relation corresponding to the lengths of material to be cut and including coacting means responsive to said spaced means, one of said stopping means being mounted upon said machine frame and the other being associated with said pusher actuating means for movement proportionately therewith.

26. In a cutting machine, a cutter, a pusher for feeding material to the cutter, means for intermittently actuating the pusher, means for actuating the cutter, means spaced in any predetermined relation corresponding to the length of material to be cut and arranged stationarily upon the machine, and stopping means for the said pusher actuating means including coacting means movable in predetermined relation with the pusher, and re-. sponsive to said spaced means.

27. In a machine for cutting paper including a frame, a cutter, a pusher for feedingmaterial to the cutter, means for intermittently actuating the pusher, means for actuating the cutter, means for stopping the actuating means including means spaced in any predetermined relation corresponding to the lengths of material to be cut and including coacting means responsive to said s ace means, one of said stopping means eing mounted upon said machine frame and the other being associated with said pusher actuating means for movement proportionately therewith, said spaced means and coacting means being adapted to overrun each other relatively when the pusher actuating means resumes operation after a out has been made.

28. In a outing machine, a cutter, a pusher for feeding material to the cutter, means for intermittently actuating the pusher, means for actuating the cutter, means spaced in any predetermined relation corresponding to the length of material to be cut and arranged stationarily upon the machine, and stopping means for the said pusher actuating means including coacting means movable in predetermined relation with the pusher, and responsive to said spaced means, said coact' means being adapted to overrun said space means when the pusher actuating means resumes operation after a cut has been made.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si ature.

ARTHUR KIRKBRIDE TA OR. 

